By: Nick Gambino
It’s wild to think until now there has not been a dedicated Instagram app for the iPad. That means for roughly 15 years if you wanted to scroll Instagram on your tablet, you’d have to log in through the browser like you were on a computer.
The new Instagram app designed for your iPad launched on September 3rd with some notable differences from the mobile app you’re used to.
For instance, when you launch the app, you won’t automatically end up in your main feed. Instead, it opens up right to Reels. This is in step with Meta’s desire to make Reels their main focus.
Another big difference is you’ll be able to see comments running next to the Reel you’re watching instead of navigating away from the video to see what people are saying. This is because you’re dealing with a lot more screen real estate and so they can cram more in. Those who use Instagram on a desktop or laptop may notice some similarities.
It seems Apple is using this new version of the app as a testing ground for new features. Obviously there’s the automatic drop-in to Reels I mentioned above, but they’re also introducing a whole new tab called “Following.”
As the name suggests, this section will allow you to browse through photos and videos from those you follow. This has been a sore point for many since Meta opted for a feed mostly made up of content suggestions similar to those you follow. This meant a lot of stuff you actually wanted to see would get buried in a mountain of other content you never signed up for.
“Following” brings back another feature that we’ve missed – the ability to see your feed in chronological order. No more weeding through Reels and posts in some random order that you can’t make sense of.
Apple users aren’t the only ones who get to experience this different version of the popular social media platform. The new Instagram app will be coming to Android tablets in the near future. If you’re looking for a fresh start or just need a break, you can also delete your Instagram and start over.
